Exploring Bat–Virus Interactions: Insights from a Study in the Gobi Desert

In May 2022, an expedition was conducted in the Gobi Desert, Mongolia, to investigate the viral diversity of bats, recognized as reservoirs of emerging zoonotic viruses. Bats were captured in six oases using mist nets and were identified morphologically and molecularly. Fecal samples were collected and screened using molecular protocol targeting viral agents of relevance to human and animal health, including coronaviruses, orthoreoviruses, herpesviruses, adenoviruses, flaviviruses, phleboviruses, paramyxoviruses, pestiviruses, and Influenza A viruses. In total, 74 bats were sampled. The most represented bat genus was Plecotus, followed by Hypsugo, Vespertilio, and Myotis. Coronavirus RNA was detected in eleven samples (14.86%), Mammalian orthoreovirus RNA in two samples (2.70%), and herpesvirus DNA in three samples (4.05%). No other targeted viruses were detected. These data expand our understanding of viral circulation in bats from previously unstudied regions. By expanding our understanding of the viral diversity harbored by bats, this study contributes to ongoing efforts to better characterize their role in the ecology and evolution of emerging zoonotic viruses. Continuous surveillance in remote and biodiverse areas is essential to identify potential threats to public and animal health and to improve preparedness for future viral emergence.